Dry mat scorcher



Oct. 24, 1933. F. MILNE DRY MAT SCORCHER Filed May '7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES ou.v v24, 1933.

F. MILNE DRY MAT SCORCHER Filed May 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patentedr Gct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved dry mat scorcher of the type used in drying matrices, the object being to form an improved construction where the matrix may be dried quickly without 15 War-pingfunequal tion.

shrinkage, wrinkling or buckling.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a mat scorcher formed toprovide a pressure on the mat during the dryingv operation.

A further object, vmore specifically, is to provide a mat scorcher having a mat receiving heating structure and means coacting therewith when closing the heating structure and pressing a mat against the structure during the drying opera- In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a side View of a mat scorcher disclosing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 isl a' perspective View of a pair of frames used to form part of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view 'of the structure shown in Figure 1.V l

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through Figure 1v on line 1 -4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals,l 1 indicates legs associated with suitable braces 2 forming a stand. Preferably there LAare four legs 1 each formed with an angle iron land braced by suitable braces 2. On top of these legs is placed a cast iron base 3 which is bolted or otherwise secured rigidly to these legs. Suitable endplates 4 extend upwardly from the base plate 3 which with the steel covering plate 5 form a chamber. This chamber is vdivided' by an arc-shaped casting 6 whereby the space 7 may be termed a heating chamber by reason of the electricl heating coils 3 carried by the casting 6. These heating coils are connected to a suitable source of current (notjshown). A switch 9 is interposed in the circuit of the various heating coils 8, said switch'being what is known as a three-heat switch which 4will provide current so as to heat the coils to three different tempera-- tures. A desirable structure has been found to have six heating coils or elements 8 which heating coils or elements use 500 watts at 110, 220 or other volts. The switch 9 is so formed that it will have aposition ofi and three positions on, the -rst permitting use of 100,0 lwatts for all the heating elements', the second, 2000 watts,fand the third 3000 watts. While this particular structure isdesirable, other arrangements of the-heating `elements may be used without departing from 'the spirit of the invention.

Thel steel plate is comparatively thin and may be held in place in any suitable way, as for instance, by being bolted to the edge of the base plate or by the asbestos cloth 10 being stretched `over the plate and secured to the base 3 by suit- (Cl. lill- 16) able screws 11. On this asbestos cloth is posi-l tioned the matrix 12 which is to be dried, the'same being placed in aposition face downward. The

chamber being previously heated, the matrix may beplaced-on the asbestos covering or sheeting 10 and allowed to dry but the drying would never be successful in that the matrix would wrinkle, buckle or shrink unevenly and not be at when dried. By the present invention, means have beenl provided for applying a pressure evenly throughout to the outer surface of the matrix during the drying operation which materially increases thedrying action. This holds the matrix firmly against warping, buckling, wrinkling or distorted'shrinkage. The result is that the matrix is thoroughly dried and is in a 100 per cent condition after the drying operation. In order to accomplish this, the canvas or other cloth member 13 is provided which is adapted to press againstjthe matrix when the scorcher is in use. In order to properly support the canvas 13, a pivotaliy mounted frame 14 is provided, the same being pivotally mounted through the use of a rod 15 and brackets 16 to a reciprocating frame 17. The frame 14 is provided with angle irons 18 'and 19, said angle irons having preferably threadedk apertures for receiving screws 22, said screws' aty 26. This forms a support for the canvas covering 13, said covering being connected to this support` by tape, chains or other iiexible members 27.`

In this way the canvas covering is supported and may be moved upwardly-'and downwardly without interfering with the action of the canvas on the matrix. The frame 17 is* formed from a pair of angle irons 28 and l29 and connecting rods 30 and 3l, each'of said rods having a tube V32 rotatably mounted thereon. Pull rods 33, 34, and 36 depend from the respective bars 28 and 29 and in turn support the bars 37 and 38 Which barsare connected by strips 39 and40, thus making a lower frame to which the respective springs 41 are connected, there being shown four springs though a'greater or less number may be usedwithout departing from the spirit' of the invention. Each spring is connected with a tension device 42 as shown in 'Figure 3, each tension device extending loosely through a bracket 44 so that a nut 45 may function to provide any desired tension on the respective springs. Pull rods 33 to 36 inclusive extend loosely through suitable brackets 46 carried by the respective bracing bars 47 and 48. These bracing bars are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the respective legs 1 and act in a double capacity as means 5 for bracing the legs and means forming part of the brackets 46. Also the plates 47 and 48 carry their respective shafts 49 and 50 which shafts are rigidly secured to the respective links or cranks 51 and 52, which links or cranks are pivotally connected at 53 and 55 to depending ears on the bar 56. From Figure 3, it will be observedl that there are two sets of bars 56 and also two sets of links 51 and 52, whereby the respective bars 56 may be raised and lowered as the links 5l and 52 are swung through the action of handle 57 which is-rigidly secured to shaft 49. As handle 57 is swung downwardly an appreciable distance, the respective bars 56 will be lowered by the forward and downward swinging movement of the links A 51 and 52. The bars 56 normally rest against the rollers 32 on rods 30 and 31 and consequently support `frame 17 together with the frame 14 which is pivotally mounted thereon. When the bars56 have been moved downwardly as just described, both frames 14 and 17 will be lowered and consequently the canvas covering 13 will be lowered until it is pressing tightly against the matrixlZ. By moving the bars 56 downwardly, the various springs 41 may function to slide the vrods 33 to 36 inclusive downwardly and said rods "will pull the frames 14 and 17v downwardly. In

this way, there is aresilient pressure maintained on the matrix during the drying operation.

As above described, and as shown in Figure 2,

frame 14 is pivotally mounted but during the ""drying operation is locked in its lowered position by the respective catches 58, said catches being pivotally mounted on suitable brackets 59 depending from the respective bars 28 and 29. A H rod 60 connects the lower end of these catches while the upper ends engage the respective pins 61. After the drying operation has been completed, which takes approximately one minute when 3000 watts are being used, as above set dorth, rod 60 is pushed inwardly and immedi- ':"'ately both catches 58 are disengaged from their' respective pins 61. As soon as catches 58 have been released the spring 62 surrounding rod 15 and connected to this rod and to member 16 will quickly swing the frame 14 upwardly Yto the po- "stion shown in Figure 2 whereupon'the dried matrix may be removed and another matrix substituted. When a new matrix has been placed in position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the frame 14 is swung downwardly and catches 58 move to the position shown in Figure 1. After this has been done, lever 57 is moved downwardly until the bars 56 will not support the frame 17, thus permitting the springs 51v to pull the canvas `13 tightly against the matrix. The matrix is left "in thek necessary time for it to be thoroughly dried 63 which rest on the rollers 32 so that the frame 17 can be moved upwardly only to a certain point. It is desirable that the canvas 13 be moved upwardly to the position vshown in Figures 1 and 3 and left in that position except during the time ci operation of the device, namely, the drying of the matrix, as the heat would injure the canvas if it is allowed to rest on the asb-estos covering 10 for any appreciable time. By reason .of the use cf the canvas 13 and a tension device therefor, the matrix will be perfectly at and free from uneven shrinkage, buckles or wrinkles regardless of the moisture content thereof.

I claim;

l'. A scorcher for drying matrices used in connection with printing, comprising a heater structure having a rounded outer surface, an asbestos covering for said surface, said covering being adapted to receive a matrix face down, a cloth sheet normally suspended above said covering, a vertically movable frame. and spring means `for moving said frame and cloth sheet to a point whereby the sheet will press the matrix against said asbestos covering. Y

2. A scorcher for drying matrices including a heater on which the matrix is adapted to be placed, a sheet of cloth, a swingingr frame arranged adjacent the heater, means carried by the frame for normally supporting the sheetof cloth above the heater, means for connecting-two of the edges of the sheet to said frame spring means acting on the frame to swing the 'same downwardly and thereby pull the cloth sheet'v downwardly until it presses against a matrix on said heater, and manually actuated means for moving said frame upwardly against the action4 of said springs whereby said cloth will be raisedfrom said matrix.

3. A scorcher for drying matrices including aV cloth has pressed against said matrix, and* man-` ually actuated means for moving said frame upK-,

wardly to cause the cloth to move out of contact with the matrix.

4. A scorcher for drying matrices including an arc-shaped heater adapted to receive the matrix,

a cloth for pressing the matrix against said heat,-V er for holding the matrix against wrinkling and buckling during the drying operation, a reciproeating frame arranged below said heater, a"

swingng frame pivotally mounted on said re-v ciprocating frame provided with means for supporting said cloth, said frame being adapted-to ciprocating frame positioned to lock thevpivotal-V ly mounted frame against said reciprocating frame and in a position to cause said cloth to be substantially parallel with the matrix on 'the heater, means giving said reciprocating framev continuous tendency to move downwardly, said means acting to move the respective frames and cloth downwardly until the cloth presses tightlyagainst the matrix onthe heater and means for raising said frame against the action of the means,

which tends to lower the same.

FRANK lVlLNE.` 'Y

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